Recently, I saw Xavier Gens’ Under Paris (2024), a French Horror film about a grieving marine biologist who must confront her tragic past to save Paris from the devastation wrought by a monster shark in the Seine. Although the film offered nothing new, I had a good time, and it led me to explore other aquatic horror films. Horror is a genre that aims to elicit emotions such as fear and disgust. And nothing scares humans more than the fear of the unknown, which can be explored effectively in aquatic horror films because you never know what lurks beneath the surface of any body of water. As I dug deeper, I discovered several gems and concluded that there’s a plethora of aquatic horror films that have the potential to form their own subgenre of horror. This list includes horror films where water either plays a significant role in the story or occupies the vast bulk of the screen time. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are the top ten aquatic horror films.
10. Below (2002) – David Twohy
Below (2002), a supernatural horror film directed by David Twohy is an ideal choice to start this list. The film boasts a few intriguing ideas and genuinely creepy moments, making it a worthwhile watch. Set in August 1943, during WWII, a U.S. Navy submarine, Tiger Shark, led by Lieutenant Brice (Bruce Greenwood), rescues survivors from a sinking ship on a routine rescue mission. The submarine has multiple encounters with a German warship, which inflict persistent damage on the vessel. Soon after, the crew members, stuck in the cramped confines of a submarine, begin to experience mysterious deaths and supernatural occurrences that may or may not be related to the death of their previous Captain, Commander Winters (Nick Hobbs).
From the film’s very first scene, it becomes evident that the submarine is in trouble. The German destroyer is coordinating an attack with its giant grappling hooks and explosives; there is a risk of an oil leak aboard the ship; oxygen levels seem to be low, and the crew is on edge and suffering from isolation. The film benefits from a gloomy and unsettling atmosphere within the submarine, which masterfully conjures up claustrophobia horror. Furthermore, it appears that a supernatural entity occupies the submarine, as certain crew members have felt the presence of someone and are continuously hearing strange sounds emanating from the top of the ship. Is there a ghost aboard the sub, or is the crew hallucinating? And finally, the fate of the submarine’s previous captain remains shrouded in mystery, as there are contrasting stories and no clarity on what happened to him. All these questions, enigmatic events, and ambiguity will pique your curiosity about the story’s progression and resolution, which makes the film engaging (albeit the film’s ending with numerous unanswered questions may frustrate some).
9. Sea Fever (2019) – Neasa Hardiman
Neasa Hardiman’s Sea Fever is an impressively executed low-budget film that expertly blends science fiction, eco-horror, and survival horror elements. As part of her research, Siobhan (Hermione Corfield), a PhD student studying deep sea faunal behavioral patterns, secures a spot on a West of Ireland fishing trawler, the Niamh Cinn Óir, crewed by six individuals. Once aboard, Gerard (Dougray Scott), the captain and husband to Freya (Connie Nielson), the ship’s owner, leads the Niamh Cinn Óir to an exclusion zone due to the abundance of fish despite the Irish Coast Guard’s warnings. As a result, the boat comes to a standstill in the middle of the ocean, revealing a giant bioluminescent monster with large tentacles underneath. Shortly after, the crew finds themselves in a life-or-death situation when they discover a strange growing parasite that has sprung from the creature in their water source.
Without any graphic violence or jump scares, Sea Fever succeeds as an atmospheric horror film because the director focuses on making the crew feel isolated and paranoid by subjecting them to stressful situations and creating enough friction among them. After Siobhan and the crew discover that the sea monster has infected the water filtration systems using parasites that are larvae whose eggs fill the slime, their actions to deal with the larvae (via UV light and electricity) make for an exciting watch. The visual effects of the aquatic creatures are minimal yet incredibly subtle and effective. The film’s characters are just sketches, but the performances of each actor are strong enough to make them stand out. Hermione Corfield, who plays the role of Siobhan—a PhD student who is quiet, awkward, and highly intelligent—emerges as the film’s standout performer. Sea Fever is a compelling eco-horror film about the spread of a deadly infection, and the fact that it was released right before the COVID-19 pandemic makes it highly relevant to its time.
8. Piranha (1978) – Joe Dante
Following Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking success with Jaws (1975), numerous rip-offs of the original followed. Among these, Joe Dante’s Piranha is one of the better rip-offs; Spielberg himself lauded it as the best imitation of the original, and it was this praise that prevented Universal Studios (Jaws’ producer) from suing New World Pictures (the producer of Piranha). Maggie McKeown (Heather Menzies), an insurance investigator, hires an alcoholic local guide named Paul Grogan (Bradford Dillman) to track down two missing teenagers. While looking for them in an abandoned military facility, Maggie accidentally releases dangerous, flesh-eating Piranhas into the river when she drains the local pool. They soon discover that these piranhas were the result of a scientific experiment by the military to use them in the Vietnam War by releasing them into North Vietnamese rivers to disrupt the Viet Cong movement. As a result, when Maggie and Paul discover that these monsters are making their way downstream, past various resorts, swimming pools, and summer camps, they must act quickly to stop them from wreaking havoc and killing more people.
John Sayles’ brilliant screenplay keeps the action moving at a breakneck pace, keeping the protagonists on the edge of their seats as they try to find the piranhas and stop them from causing more human casualties. Additionally, they must race against the clock to find a way to stop the piranhas before they reach the ocean and start spreading around the world. Even though these little fish monsters are rarely seen and may appear less intimidating than the giant shark from Jaws, the makers still maintain the threat factor, thanks to increased gore level and astute editing by Dante and Mark Goldblatt. The film goes to extreme lengths that even Jaws did not, depicting a sequence in which the Piranhas slaughter several innocent children to illustrate just how dangerous these little rascals are. Piranha is a humorous and self-aware film; it knows what it is and who it is ripping off (in the opening credits, we see the protagonist playing an arcade version of Jaws, a nod to the original); it never takes itself too seriously, and it’s still a damn entertaining campy B movie that I enjoy every time I see it.
7. Deep Blue Sea (1999) – Renny Harlin
Considered a comeback picture for filmmaker Renny Harlin, who had not had a hit since 1993’s Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea is an excellent pick for anyone seeking a decent monster flick and some popcorn entertainment. Dr. Susan McCallister (Saffron Burrows) and her team are studying mako sharks to help treat Alzheimer’s disease at Aquatica, a remote underwater research facility in the middle of the ocean. She is looking for investors to help support her research and invites a wealthy businessman, Russell Franklin (Samuel Jackson), to visit the facility. However, genetic modifications have made sharks extremely dangerous and intelligent, and all hell breaks loose when the sharks escape during a storm and begin slaying the humans in that facility one by one.
Deep Blue Sea benefits from introducing not one but three intelligent, ferocious, and deadly sharks, which drastically raises the stakes and increases the tension. Additionally, there are a few innovative action set pieces, particularly in the scene where the cook named Preacher (LL Cool J) confronts the shark for the first time in the kitchen and hides inside a huge oven to prevent the relentless shark attack. His escape from this seemingly impossible situation is impressively staged and executed. The entire film takes place in a desolate research facility in the middle of the ocean, which contributes to the feeling of seclusion and claustrophobia. The shark attacks are so violent and ruthless that they set the stage for some memorable death scenes, most notably the one involving Samuel Jackson, which people still talk about to this day. The film also features well-rounded human characters, especially Dr. Susan, whose tragic struggle to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease—the disease that killed her father—leads her to go overboard in her pursuit of this goal and ultimately becomes responsible for everything that happens in the film. Performance-wise, LL Cool J stands out as Preacher, a lively and likable character for whose survival we root for.
6. Deep Rising (1998) – Stephen Sommers
Deep Rising, directed by Stephen Sommers, was a commercial and critical failure when it was released (possibly because it came out right after Titanic (1997)). However, the film has rightfully earned cult status over the years; it’s a ridiculous and endlessly amusing thrill ride that’s good fun all the way through, thanks to its well-executed action and humor. During a storm, Captain Finnegan (Treat Williams) and his crew, Leila (Una Damon) and Joey (Kevin J. O’Connor), are hired by a mercenary squad led by Hanover (Wes Studi) to sail across the South China Sea to raid and pillage a cruise liner. Upon reaching the cruise ship, they are shocked to learn that all the guests have mysteriously vanished. Eventually, it becomes clear that something sinister and terrifying is lurking on board, seemingly from the unknown depths of the water, and they must protect themselves from its relentless slaughter.
The sea monster’s concept and design are impressive, and even though the monster’s forgettable visual effects don’t do the design justice, they don’t detract from the film. The film is incredibly hilarious and does not take itself seriously. Sommers is not concerned with being logical or having a storyline that makes sense; instead, he focuses on providing us with tense action sequences and an adventure-filled thrill ride, which he successfully does. Also, the makers develop endearing characters like Finnegan, Trillion (Famke Janssen), a thief and survivor aboard the cruise liner, and Joey, and we begin to care about them and cheer for their survival. And regardless of what anyone says, I appreciated the makers’ decision to bring back a loving character towards the end. The picture features a surprisingly strong cast, including Treat Williams, Famke Jannsen, Anthony Heald, Cliff Curtis, Djimon Hounsou, etc., all playing their respective parts admirably, but Kevin O’Connor’s performance as Joey steals the show. Deep Rising can be described as Aliens (1979) on a cruise ship and is one of the better knockoffs of the classic Sci-Fi horror film.
5. The Shallows (2016) – Jaume Collet-Serra
In his low-budget, minimum-settings B movie, The Shallow, director Jaume Collet Sera crafts a nifty survival horror that doesn’t reinvent the wheel of the genre but does what it sets out to do: provide an enjoyable cinematic experience and a great way to unwind on a Saturday afternoon when you don’t feel like giving much thought to anything. Shortly after her mother’s death, Nancy Adams (Blake Lively), a medical student, takes a break from her studies and travels to a secluded beach in Mexico, where her mother once visited while she was pregnant with her. While surfing, she is attacked by a great white shark, leaving her injured and stranded on a rock about 200 yards from the shore. As a result, Nancy must rely on her wits, mental fortitude, and perseverance to ensure her survival.
Flavio Labiano’s cinematography is exceptional, particularly in the early scenes featuring Nancy surfing against the tide, where Flavio’s gorgeous sweeping shots of the open ocean, combined with the use of slow-motion shots and the electronic background score, create an electrifying experience that will make you want to go surfing yourself. Following the shark attack, the film effectively isolates Nancy from all sides while trapped on a rock with a bird. She has no options and no way to escape; the fact that the shore is only 200 yards away adds more to the hopelessness and helplessness of her situation. As a result, the strategy she devises to outwit the shark and escape an impossible predicament sets the stage for some thrilling action scenes and nail-biting showdowns that will have you gripping your seat. The Shallows revolves around Blake Lively, who carries the film with her powerful performance, and her character’s fierceness, admirability, and resolve will have you cheering for her.
4. Crawl (2019) – Alexandre Aja
I suppose Alexandre Aja’s pitch for this film could have been, “What if Jaws happened inside a basement during a hurricane in Florida, and instead of sharks, there are alligators everywhere?” Crawl was Quentin Tarantino’s favorite film of 2019. While that may seem a bit far-fetched, the film nonetheless remains immensely enjoyable since it has enough jump scares and nerve-wracking moments to captivate you for its 87-minute brisk runtime. Haley Keller (Kaya Scodelario), a University of Florida swimmer, goes to her childhood home in hurricane-ravaged Florida in search of her father, ignoring evacuation instructions. Following a thorough search, she finds his unconscious father, Dave (Barry Pepper), in the basement and realizes that the crawl space is occupied by two deadly alligators who are after them. As a result, Haley and Dave remain trapped in the basement, where they must contend with the risks of rising water levels and avoid becoming prey for giant, vicious American alligators.
The makers expertly utilize the confined spaces of the basement to put the protagonists in a claustrophobic state, while the presence of gators in and around the home and the impending hurricane all contribute to the gradually increasing danger levels. Things become even more tense and intriguing once the basement begins to fill with water. The action choreography takes full advantage of the cramped environments to generate a few genuinely anxiety-inducing moments that will have you chewing your nails constantly. For instance, there is a scene in which a gator chases Haley into the bathroom, where she skillfully tricks him and locks him in the shower area. Alternatively, the scene in which she exits the basement via a drain pipe (from where the gators came) and then enters the house to prevent her father from drowning is nervy and brilliantly executed. Despite the lack of depth in Haley and Dave’s characters, the actors’ chemistry and performances make their relationship credible and authentic. Films of this genre typically don’t focus on deep themes or plots or detailed characterization but on situations where protagonists, who are sympathetic and likable, face peril, making the viewers anxious about their survival. The more tense and dangerous the scenarios, and the more creative the solutions, the more thrilling and engrossing the film gets.
3. Alligator (1980) – Lewis Teague
Alligator, directed by Lewis Teague and written by John Sayles, who follows up the script of Piranha (1978) with another self-aware Jaws knockoff that seamlessly blends the grimy procedural elements of the 1970s with an absurd corporate satire, alligator horror, and a love story, resulting in an entertaining low-budget romp. A pet baby alligator, Ramone, is flushed down the toilet but survives in the sewers of Chicago by eating dead animals that were once test subjects for illegal research on growth hormones. Consequently, twelve years down the road, Ramone transforms into a monstrous 36-foot-long creature, possessed with an unquenchable hunger that he satisfies by unleashing on a murderous spree. It is up to Detective David Madison (Robert Forster) and a herpetologist, Dr. Marissa Kendall (Robin Riker), to end the Alligator’s rampage before more people start turning up dead.
An intriguing aspect of the film is that the Alligator is treated as if he were a serial killer skulking in Chicago’s sewers. He isn’t just a dumb monster that goes around killing people. Instead, he is portrayed as a perfect antagonist with whom we empathize and understand the motivations behind his deeds. The film also delves into the themes of greed and corruption, which directly impact the Alligator’s actions, ending in devastating results for the humans. As a down-on-his-luck cop, Robert Forster delivers a committed performance, and his chemistry with Robin Riker facilitates the swift and effective establishment of their romantic relationship, as they come across as a pleasant couple. Forster was cast as Max Cherry in Jackie Brown (1997) by Quentin Tarantino after seeing his performance in this film. Alligator is a criminally underappreciated picture worth checking out for its clever screenplay, witty dialogues, and strong performances.
2. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) – Jack Arnold
Creature from the Black Lagoon, directed by Jack Arnold, is a vintage 1950s monster film regarded as the predecessor to Jaws (1975) and one of the most influential horror films, inspiring several rip-offs and copies. After discovering rare skeleton remains in the Amazon forest that suggest the creature was amphibious, geologist Dr. Carl Maia (Antonio Moreno) consults his former student, an ichthyologist Dr. David Reed (Richard Carlson). Reed then organizes an expedition with a team of scientists to investigate if the remaining fossil can be unearthed. Despite their initial lack of success, they encounter a peculiar hybrid species (half man/half fish) known as a Gill-man as they make their way downstream to the Black Lagoon. The group attempts to capture him for further research, but he does not take kindly to threats and uses aggression as his best defense. However, things take a strange turn when the Gill-man takes a liking to one of the scientists and Dave’s fiancee, Kay (Julia Adams), and kidnaps her.
The underwater scenes are the film’s high point, both visually breathtaking and masterfully photographed by Jack Heavens, particularly the fight sequence between the Gill-man and Mark (Richard Denning), Dave’s boss and the expedition’s financier. Another noteworthy aspect is that Arnold humanizes the Gill-man by showing him as an awkward, misunderstood creature, which adds to his relatability and empathy. Additionally, the creature is utterly captivated by a woman’s beauty, which Arnold manages to convey as endearing rather than creepy, eliciting a strong emotional response from the audience. In fact, the film has such an impact on director Guillermo Del Toro that he envisioned a romantic relationship between Kay and the Gill-man, which inspired him to make the Oscar-winning The Shape of the Water (2017). Even after seven decades, the Gill-man’s design and characteristics—its scale-covered, shimmering Gills, featureless, ice-cold eyes, and distinctive swimming abilities—do not appear outdated and have aged quite well. The screenplay is tight, with an 80-minute runtime free of unnecessary plot points, gags, or redundancies. Creature from a Black Lagoon is an old-fashioned man-in-a-monster-suit fun not to be missed.
1. Jaws (1975) – Steven Spielberg
Undoubtedly, the best Aquatic Horror film on this list, and the one that inspired countless others—including nearly half of the movies listed here—is Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, also widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. A watershed moment in cinematic history, Jaws was instrumental in establishing the now-popular summertime event films known as “Blockbuster movies,” which generally consist of simplistic yet exciting storylines with lots of action and adventure. The small seaside community of Amity Island, which relies heavily on tourism for money, is terrorized by a ferocious great white shark. The chief of police, Martin Brody (Roy Schneider), wants to close the beach, but the mayor, Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), is strictly against it, fearing the loss of tourism revenue. As a result, the beaches open up and become overrun with tourists, only to be shut down when the shark makes another attack. To end this terror, Brody, Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) set sail on Quint’s boat to kill the shark.
Jaws is one of those rare “Perfect Films” in which every department performs at its highest level, and the whole thing comes together flawlessly to create a true masterwork. Even though the shark doesn’t feature prominently in the film, mainly owing to the constant malfunction of the mechanical shark, which resulted in delayed production and cost overruns, John Williams’ iconic score is primarily responsible for generating the impending suspense surrounding the shark. The action choreography is outstanding, but what keeps you returning for more are the characters—Hooper, Quint, and Brody—and their dynamic chemistry, body language, and handling of the shark’s dangers. Whenever I re-watch the film, the way Shaw says “Hooperrr” sticks with me for days. As to Neal Gabler’s analysis, the film depicts three methods of coping with the shark: science (represented by Hooper), spiritualism (by Quint), and common sense and presence of mind (by Brody), the latter of which ultimately prevails.
Jaws movie links: IMDB, Letterboxd
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